1) This morning we want to see engage in a brief study of what God’s grace is and does.
a) God’s grace says punishment can be avoided. His grace encourages us to find forgiveness.
b) God offers great grace to the world, but His grace must be accessed.
c) Once it is accessed, it must be maintained.
d) Acts 13:43 says people must “continue” in the grace of God.
2) Sometimes I get the impression that people view God’s grace as a one-time arrangement.
3) Acts 14:3 – READ
a) God’s grace is joined with His word.
b) We are not going to find the grace of God unless we open up the word of God.
c) Acts 15:11 says salvation and grace go hand in hand. We cannot be saved without grace.
4) Acts 20:32 – READ
a) God’s grace “builds up people.”
b) False teachers build up people by misusing God’s grace.
c) Jude 4.
5) False teachers tell people “It does not matter what you believe.
6) “You may believe what you want because God is a God of grace.”
7) Acts 14:3 – God’s grace is joined with His word.
a) Grace and scripture go together.
b) False teachers may build people up with lies and false promises.
c) They use smooth talk to describe a type of grace the Bible never mentions.
d) (Rom. 1:7); (1 Cor. 1:3); (1:3), etc.
8) Not only does God want us to have grace, He wants us to “stand” in it. Rom. 5:2.
a) Rom. 5:15 says God’s grace is a gift.
b) Gifts are given to people who have a relationship with the giver.
c) Gifts are not randomly passed out to strangers.
d) Grace is given to those who are “in Christ” (Eph. 1:3).
9) God’s gift of grace is a very great gift – Rom. 5:17 – READ
10) God’s grace is “abundant” (it is more than enough).
11) Christians at Rome thought God’s grace was a pretty good deal but they took things too far.
a) Rom. 6:1-2 – READ
b) Grace helps us in many ways.
c) Sadly, there are those who do not want to remain in God’s grace.
d) In the Galatian letter (5:4) the apostle Paul spoke of those who “fell from God’s grace.”
12) Paul said “grace through faith” in Eph. 2:8. Grace is God’s part; “faith” is our part.
13) Eph. 2:8 does not say “faith alone.” It says “faith.” Faith involves many things, including obedience.
a) Col. 1:6 – READ John said “grace and truth” have come through Jesus (Jn. 1:17).
14) 1 Pet. 1:2, 22.
a) Gal. 3:27 baptism puts people into Christ – the location of God’s grace.
b) All need God’s grace to avoid eternal condemnation. Have we accessed it?
Find the truth about God and become a New Testament Christian. Find out more about New Testament Christianity by running some Internet searches for “church of Christ” and “churches of Christ.” You may also want to visit http://www.abiblecommentary.com for Bible study information.
Remember, in order to be saved and enjoy all God’s blessings (not the least of which is salvation), a person must have faith (Jn. 8:24), be willing to repent (Lk. 13:3), and after confessing Christ as Lord, the final step is water baptism (Rom. 6:3; 1 Cor. 12:13; 1 Pet. 3:20-21). Bible baptism is by immersion only (“burial,” Rom. 6:4), and once it is done, heaven puts that person “into Christ” (Gal. 3:27; Rom. 6:3). After proper baptism a person has their sins forgiven (Acts 2:38).